The world needs recycling more than ever before, especially when it comes to plastics. Still, less than 10% of plastic waste is recycled every year by plastic waste recycling machines. Part of the reason is that there are many different kinds of plastic, and a recycling system that works for one type doesn’t work for them all. In other words, not all plastic is created equal.
In the plastic recycling industry, two basket terms are often used: post-industrial and post-consumer plastic. This most basic classification of plastic waste is an important place to start for any recycling business looking at expanding or starting into the industry. The different sources, compositions, and uses of recycled goods have real impacts on the bottom line of every recycling company.
What is Post-industrial Plastic?
Post-industrial plastic, sometimes referred to as pre-consumer plastic originates from waste produced during the manufacturing process. This type of plastic waste never makes it to supermarket fridges or store shelves. Instead, the industrial facilities generate and discard it, often as a byproduct of plastic production. Just like a candy factory creates offcuts of caramel batches. Typical examples include:
- Excess plastic from injection molding processes
- Cut-offs and trimmings from plastic sheet production
- Defective products rejected during manufacturing quality control
Since post-industrial plastic has never been used in consumer goods, it is often relatively clean and uniform. As we’ll dive into later, this makes it easier to recycle because it hasn’t been exposed to contaminants like food residues, chemicals, or mixed material packaging.
What is Post-consumer Plastic?
Post-consumer plastic is more familiar to the lay population. It refers to plastic that has already been used by consumers and discarded into municipal waste collection systems. This is the plastic everyone sees being thrown away and sadly, littering the sides of highways.
Examples of post-consumer plastic include:
- Plastic bottles
- Packaging film
- Plastic grocery bags
- Plastic ‘clam-shell’ containers
Unlike post-industrial plastic, post-consumer plastic tends to be dirty and variable in size, color and type. It often requires thorough sorting, cleaning, and decontamination before it can be processed, due to things like food residues, oils, labels, and other non-plastic materials. This contamination can make it more difficult and expensive to recycle.
Key Differences Between Post-Industrial and Post-Consumer Plastic
Now that we know the origins of these plastics, let’s look at the specific differences between the two and why they matter in the recycling process.
1. Source of Waste
Post-industrial Plastic: Comes directly from manufacturing processes. It is typically generated as scrap during the creation of plastic products.
Post-consumer Plastic: This product comes from things that have been used and discarded by ordinary people.
2. Level of Contamination
Post-industrial Plastic: Typically cleaner and more homogeneous (all the same) since it hasn’t been exposed to external contaminants. It is usually sorted by type and color during the manufacturing process.
Post-consumer Plastic: Often contaminated with food, dirt, labels, adhesives, and mixed materials. Requires additional cleaning, sorting, and processing steps before it can be recycled.
3. Ease of Recycling
Post-industrial Plastic: Easier to recycle due to its uniformity in type and cleaner condition. It usually requires less sorting and processing.
Post-consumer Plastic: More challenging to recycle because it requires multiple steps to ensure the material is clean and free of contaminants. The variety of plastics used in consumer goods can also complicate the recycling process, as different types of plastic have different recycling requirements.
4. Environmental Impact
Post-industrial Plastic: While recycling post-industrial plastic helps prevent waste from going to landfills, it doesn’t reduce consumer waste. It merely recycles the scraps from the production phase.
Post-consumer Plastic: Recycling post-consumer plastic directly addresses the problem of plastic waste. By recycling plastics that consumers discard, we reduce the overall volume of waste headed to landfills and oceans, making it a crucial component of sustainability efforts.
Because of all the difficulties in recycling post-consumer plastic, there’s a lot of it out there, and recycling programs are simply waiting to catch up. From an environmental standpoint, while both forms of recycling are important, post-consumer plastic plays a more critical role in tackling plastic pollution.
5. Market Value
Post-industrial Plastic: Generally has higher market value because of its cleaner state and homogeneity. Since it doesn’t require as much processing, companies are willing to pay more for this type of recycled plastic.
Post-consumer Plastic: Typically has lower market value due to the higher costs associated with cleaning, sorting, and processing. However, the market is always changing. Global pressure for sustainable materials is driving higher demand for post-consumer recycled plastics, as they represent a more significant reduction in waste.
Why is this important?
For plastic recyclers, the distinction between post-industrial and post-consumer plastic is more than just technical jargon. It directly affects the recycling process, the quality of the end product, and the role it plays in sustainability. Post-industrial plastics may be easier to recycle, but recycling post-consumer plastics tackles the broader issue of plastic waste. By understanding and mastering the recycling of both types, recyclers can improve their operations in both senses: profitability and sustainability.
